Transportable dock



4,1951 F. J. MELGES ET AL 2,564,123

TRANSPORTABLE DOCK Filed April 15, 19 58 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV ToRs Gi -aw ATTORNEY 14, 1951 F. J. MELGES ETAL 2,564,123

I TRANSPORTABLE DOCK Filed April 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hua h M grs VEN S ATTORNEY F1 J. Melges 2x Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frederick J. Melges and Hugh Myers,

, Battle Creek, Mich.

Application April it, 1943, Serial No. 21,158

sections with such sections bolted end to end, during installation, and the whole set on spaced wooden horses. When the season ends, the dock sections are unbolted one by one, and carried in and stored along with the wooden horses. This is a slow and undesirable job due to at least one of those persons dismantling the dock having to stand for a considerable period of time in cold water while the unbolting and removal are taken care of. Moreover, docks made in this manner are not easily adjustable, to make the upper face of the dock substantially straight at the beginning of the season, nor is it easy to adjust same during the season should it settle at 'any of the dock joints. It was a recognition of these difliculties and shortcomings of the prior art which lead to the conception and development of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provision of' a simplified dock assembly which is quickly installable without the use of bolts or wooden'mount'ing horses,

Another object is to provide a dock assembly which is easy to construct, installyandremove from the water.

Another object is to provide a dock assembly which is easy to adjust to various heights during and after installation. Another object is to'provide a dock assembly which is self-locking when installed. l

Another object is to provide a d'ockconstructioh to which sidewise projecting dock-sections may be readily added or removed. "Another object is to provide a self-locking construction dock which is stable and dependable. Q Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

"To the accomplishment "of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, "consists of the means hereinafter fully-described and-particularly pointed out the-'claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth detail certain-means forwarrying out invention, such disclosed meansu'illustrating,

projecting anchor plates .ofpross boards for clarity Qf (illustration, may be. fastened in 11 Claims. (Cl. 6 1-48 however, but several of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side assembly view of a preferred form of the present invention.

Figure '2 shows a top view of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure" 3 is a partially sectioned "assembly view as taken at line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of the end portion of one of the dock sections illustrated in assembled position in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view of a dock section asseen at line 5--5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side view of a preferred form of the dock supporting assembly ready "to receive and hold the end of the dock section shown in Figure '4. Figure '7 is a fragmentary view showing the joining of a sidewise extending section of dock onto the main dock.

Figure 8 shows a perspective assembly view of a modified form of a dock supporting assembly madeaccording to the present invention.

Figure 9 shows a fragmentary side view of the end portion of a modified dock section suitable for mounting on the dock supporting assembly of Figure 8.

Figure 10 shows a. fragmentary end view 01' the dock section of Figure 9 mounted on the dock supporting assembly of Figure 8. v Figure 11 shows a fragmentary top view illustrating the end to end mounting of two of the dock sections shown in Figures 9 and 10 on the dock supporting assembly of Figure 8.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 7 of thedrawings, it will be noted that the dock assembly is very much simplified, and suitable for quick assembly and disassembly. Docks are generally stronger and more stabilized if firmly anchored at the shore end, and to accomplish this with the present invention, it is proposed that a concrete anchor member I be used. To join the dock to this concrete anchor member, 2 with notches 3 may be set in the concrete as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

. The dock sections 6, Figure 2, are constructed with the usual side stringers 4 and preferably with a center stringer 5 'where the dock section is moderately wide, and to these stringers a deck which :are shown widely spaced main dock.

appear as shown joined dock sections present dock assembly is --to 11 wherein the use of conventional manner such as with nails. or screws. A pair of mounting plates 8, Figures 4 and 5, are placed directly opposite each other on each end of the dock sections, and these mounting plates are preferably angular in shape to better support the stringers which are fastened thereto by means of screws 9, or the like. Projecting outward, in suitable location, from said mounting plates 8 are headed anchor members [9 which are adapted to engage the notches 3 in anchor plates 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 6. These notches may be straight sided, but in preferred construction they are slightly flared at the top so that when anchor member is in place it will be held by wedge action.

Dock supporting assemblies H, such as shown in Figure 3, are preferably of telescoping construction with the upper subassembly consisting of a pair of substantially parallel upright tubular members I2 and I3 joined by a tubular crossbar 14, and having a pair of anchor plates 2 welded or otherwise rigidly anchored to the inner edge of the uprights. above the crossbar. Where a center stringer 5 is used on dock section 6, a center support 22 for the ends of these stringers is provided'on crossbar I l. The lower subassembly consists of a pair of substantially parallel upright tubular members l5 and iii of suitable size and spacing to telescopically receive uprights l2 and E3 of the. upper subassembly. These upright tubular members l5 and I6 are preferably rigidly joined by a tubular crossbar I! which makes the whole assembly exceptionally stable and'rigid. Each of the tubular members l5 and I6 is drilled near its upper end and suitable threaded nuts l8}- welded to same. A set screw l9 threadedly engages each of said nuts and passes through the drilled opening behind said nut so that when tightened it will grip the corresponding upright of the upper subassembly and thus make same telescopically adjustable and anchorable in predetermined location. On the bottom of each of the uprights l5 and I6 is anchored a ground plate 20, and extending from the bottom of said plate, substantially in alignmentwith the uprights, is a ground piercer l The ground piercer on each of the uprights of a piece of rod or place as by welding 2|. is preferably in the'iorm tubing rigidly anchored in or brazing;

While a straight extendingdock is all that is wanted in most cases, sometimes the dock owner wishes to have a.T-end, a section, or a pair of sections of dock projecting sidewise from the This may be accomplished very readily in accordance with the present invention, as is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure .7. To attain this, one end'of one of the anchor plates 2 is bent outward at 90 and the end of the corresponding anchor Plate on the opposite side of the support" assembly bent outward 90 in opposite direction to the first so that they in Figure 7. Mounting plates .8 are fastened on the side of the dock section in position to engage the outturned ends of these anchor plates. Then by adjusting the support assembly upward so that the notches 3 in the turned out ends of the anchor plates firmly engage the headed anchor members it) of the two mounting plates on the side of the dock section, the joinder is completed. The other ends of the would be conventionally supported as previously described.

A still further simplified construction of the illustrated in Figures 8 anchorplatel is elimi- 'port assembly is mounted asbefore under the free mately horizontal.

being offset sidewise as is shown in Figure 11.

This type of construction is also suitable for forming T-section and side extending section docks of the type shown in Figure '7 by merely bending the notched end of a pair of mounting plates 8a outward about dotted line 25, Figure 9, at the end of flange 23. These sidewise bent mounting plates 8a are then fastened on the side of the dock section, with screws 9, in position to hook over crossbar Hi of the support assembly Ila, Figure 8, on the end of the dock section to be joined to the side of the main dock so as to take'on a like appearance to that shown in Figure '7, and which is to be considered as diagrammatically illustrating the present modification.

In manufacturing the support assemblies, which are preferably either tin plated or galvanized to resist rusting, upright members l2 and [3 of the upper subassembly are made long so that when crossbar I4 is down to the top of upright tubular members It and It, the lower.

end of upright members 12 and i3 telescoped in members [5 and IE will be near ground plates 2|]. This makes the assembly adjustable over a considerable range. While anchor plates 2, Figures 1 and 2, are welded or otherwise rigidly fastened to the support assemblies, the outer end support member of the dock may have only a half length plate since there is no further dock section to be anchored thereto and no particular need for a longer anchor plate. Moreover, it may be desired to widen the outer end of the dock section furthest into the lake, and to accomplish this the end of the stringers 4 are spread apart and longer deck lumber is used. The support assembly, to take care of this, has its crossbars lengthened to take care of the added surface.

To assemble the dock as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first dock section is carried out over the water and one end connected to anchor plates 2 in concrete anchor member I or the like. The first support assembly II, which may be made short for near shore use, is placed approximately in its final position at the end of the dock sec-'- tion, and then the ground piercers 2| are pressed into the ground until plates 20 rest on the ground. The end of thedock section is then hooked onto support assembly H and the latter adjusted until the top of the dock is approxi- A second section of dock is then carried out and one end hooked onto the outside ends of anchor plates 2 of the first support assembly H, following which a second supend of the second clock section, and suitably adjusted. This procedure is followed until the desired length of dock is installed. At the end .of the dock using season it is only necessary to pick up the end dock section and carry it and the end support assembly to storage following which the next section and support can be likewise removed. This simple and rapid procedure is con;

tinued until the whole dock is removed to storage.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the apparatus herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We therefore particularly point and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. A dock having at least one deck-supporting section with side stringers, said side stringers having mounting plates on their ends with a headed anchor member projecting sidewise from each of said plates, means for supporting the end of said deck-supporting section, said supporting assembly having upper and lower unitary frameworks, said upper framework having a pair of upright members and a cross member for rigidly joining them together, a member on each of said uprights above said cross member and having a notched upper edge for receiving and holding said headed anchor member on each of the mounting plates, said lower framework having a pair of upright members and a cross member for rigidly joining them together, and means for releasably anchoring the upright members of said frameworks together in various adjusted positions relative to each other.

2. In a dock as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is a ground plate on the lower end of each of the uprights of the lower framework, and a ground piercer extending from the bottom of each of said ground plates in a direction substantially parallel to said uprights.

3. In a dock as set forth in claim 1, wherein the uprights of said upper and lower unitary frameworks are substantially parallel, tubular, and telescope one into the other.

4. In a dock as set forth in claim 1, wherein the uprights of said upper and lower unitary frameworks are substantially parallel, tubular, and telescope one into the other, a ground plate mounted on the lower end of each of the tubular uprights of said lower framework, said ground plates being in a plane substantially perpendicular to said uprights, and a ground piercer extending from the bottom of each of said ground plates in a direction substantially parallel to said uprights.

5. A dock having at least one section with a deck supported on side stringers, said side stringers having mounting plates on their ends, each of said mounting plates having a hook end, means for supporting the end of said section, said supporting means having upper and lower unitary frameworks; said upper framework having a pair of upright members and a cross member for rigidly joining them together and acting to engage said mounting plate hooks, said lower framework having a pair of upright members and a cross member for rigidly joining them together, and means for releasably anchoring the upright members of said frameworks together in various adjusted positions relative to each other.

6. In a clock as set forth in claim 5, wherein there is a ground plate on the lower end of each of the uprights of the lower framework, and a ground piercer extending from the bottom of each of said ground plates in a direction substantially parallel to said uprights.

7. In a dock as set forth in claim 5, wherein the uprights of said. upper and lower unitary frameworks are substantially parallel, tubular, andtelescope one into the other.

8. In a dock as set forth in claim 5, wherein the uprights of said upper and lower unitary frameworks are substantially parallel, tubular, and telescope one into the other, a ground plate mounted on the lower end of each of the tubular uprights of said lower framework, said ground plates being in a plane substantially perpendicular to said uprights, and a ground piercer extending from the bottom of each of said ground plates in a direction substantially parallel to said uprights.

9. A dock, which comprises a deck with supporting longitudinalouter stringers, a dock supporting means, and a mounting plate on the ends of each of said stringers, said mounting plate being adapted to independently engage said dock supporting means and releasably hold said dock thereon, said dock supporting means comprising coacting independent upper and lower unitary frameworks, the upper framework comprising a pair of tubular uprights with a cross member rigidly joining them, said mounting plates on the adjacent ends of the deck supporting stringers releasably engaging said upper framework, and the lower framework having a pair of tubular uprights with a cross member rigidly joining them, said tubular uprights of the lower framework being telescopable with said tubular uprights of the upper framework, and means for releasably anchoring the telescoped members together at various adjusted positions.

10. A dock, which comprises a deck with supporting longitudinal outer stringers, a dock supporting means, and a mounting plate on the ends of each of said stringers, said mounting plate being adapted to independently engage said dock supporting means and releasably hold said dock thereon, said dock supporting means comprising coacting independent upper and lower unitary frameworks, the upper framework comprising a pair of substantially parallel tubular uprights with a cross member rigidly joining them, said mounting plates on the adjacent ends of the deck supporting stringers releasably engaging said upper framework, and the lower framework having a pair of substantially parallel tubular uprights with a cross member rigidly joining them, said tubular uprights of the lower framework being telescopable with said tubular uprights of the upper framework, means for releasably anchoring the telescoped members together in various adjusted positions relative to each other, a ground plate on the lower end of each of said tubular uprights of the lower framework, and a ground piercer extending from the bottom of each of said ground plates in a direction substantially parallel to said uprights.

11. A dock as in claim 1, wherein the members on the uprights with the notched upper edges for receiving and holding said headed anchor members on the mounting plates are angled whereby two deck supporting sections may be assembled in T-formation.

FREDERICK J. MELGES. HUGH MYERS.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

